Monday, November 27, 2006

IBM settles overtime lawsuit for $65 million

IBM agreed to pay $65 million to 32,000 to settled a federal class-action lawsuit over overtime pay.

The law suit, brought by U.S. District Court in San Francisco on behalf of three employees, claiming they were were illegally exempted from overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act and certain state laws.

The suit involves 32,000 workers who are classified as "Technical Services Professional and Information Technology Specialists".

IBM chose to resolve this case "without admitting any wrongdoing or liability, for a total of $65-million".

Thursday, November 23, 2006

JPMorgan Settles Disability Discrimination Suit

JPMorgan Chase & Co. has agreed to pay $2.2 million to settle a disability discrimination brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

EEOC claimed that Bank One, which was acquired by JPMorgan Chase in 2004, violated the Americans With Disabilities Act by failing to properly accommodate employees who took more than six months of medical leave.

According to the statement of EEOC, Bank One had a policy of permitting employees who returned from short-term disability within six months to keep their jobs. Employees who asked for more than six months of disability leave were not guaranteed their jobs.

J.P. Morgan Chase said in the statement that Chase was settling this case to resolve this matter expeditiously and also because this agreement reaffirms its commitment to providing reasonable accommodations to its employees.

Labor law poster tips:
By the law, Labor Law posters should be displayed in your place of business where your employees visit at least once a day.

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Restaurant Settles Sexual Harassment Suit

First Watch Restaurant will pay $230,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced Tuesday.

The EEOC filed the suit on behalf of several female former workers, including a 16-year-old girl, claiming that women were subject to the sexually hostile workplace at the company's Burlingame restaurant.
First Watch Restaurant is also asked to revamp its anti-discrimination policies and sexual harassment training.
Labor law poster tips:
The law requires employers to post Sexual Harassment Poster describing sex discrimination that violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Minimum Wage Hike, 2007

With coming of 2007, a bunch of states have their minimum wages increased. To keep compliance, please check the list below:

Arizona has increased its minimum wage to $6.75 per hour, effective January 1, 2007. Minimum wage for tipped workers has increased from the current federal mandate of $2.13 per hour to $3.75 per hour.

California has increased its minimum wage to $7.50 per hour, effective January 1, 2007, for all hours worked in Florida. The increase will affect approximately 1.4 million California workers.

Connecticut has increased its minimum wage to $7.65 per hour., effective January 1, 2007.

Colorado has increased its minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to $6.85 per hour beginning January 1, 2007. Minimum wage for tipped workers has increased from increases from $2.13 per hour to $3.83 per hour.

Delaware has increased its minimum wage from $6.15 per hour to $6.65 per hour effective Jan. 1, 2007.

Florida has increased its minimum wage to $6.67 per hour, effective January 1, 2007.

Hawaii will raise its minimum wage from $6.75 to $7.25 per hour, effective Jan. 1, 2007.

Massachusetts’s new minimum wage will increase from the current rate of $6.75 to $7.50 on Jan. 1, 2007. The increase will make Massachusetts the state with the highest minimum wage in the country.

Michigan has increased its minimum wage for non-tipped employees from $5.15 per hour to $6.95 per hour, effective October 1, 2006.

Missouri has increased its minimum wage to $6.50 per hour on January 1, 2007.

Montana has increased its minimum wage to $6.15 per hour, effective January 1, 2007. Approximately 25,000 Montana workers will get a rise.

North Carolina's minimum wage will increase to $6.15 per hour, effective Jan. 1, 2007. It's the first increase since 1997 in North Carolina.

Nevada has increased its minimum wage to $6.15 per hour, effective January 1, 2007.

The minimum wage in New York will increase from $6.75 per hour to $7.15 per hour as of January 1, 2007. The cash wage for tipped employees will increase from $4.35 per hour to $4.60 per hour.

Ohio has increased its minimum wage to $6.85 per hour, effective January 1, 2007.

The minimum wage in Oregon will increase from current $7.50 per hour to $7.80 per hour as of January 1, 2007.

Pennsylvania will increase its minimum wage to $6.25 an hour, effective Jan. 1, 2007. Employers with 10 or fewer employees will pay employees $5.65 an hour minimum.

Beginning January 1, 2007, the Rhode Island minimum wage will increase to $7.40 per hour.

Vermont minimum wage will increase to $7.80 per hour, effective Jan. 1, 2007.

Washington will increase its minimum wage by 30 cents to $7.93 an hour, effective Jan. 1, 2007. The increase is based on a 3.9 percent increase in the index for consumer price inflation.

Law change also required labor law poster update.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Tyson Foods Settles Discrimination Suit

Tyson Foods Inc., the world's largest meat producer, has agreed to pay $871,000 to 13 black workers to settle an employment discrimination lawsuit.

On behalf of the 13 plaintiffs, EEOC (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) filed a lawsuit in federal court, claiming that white workers had posted a 'white's only' sign on the restroom door and only allowed whites to use it.

Tyson denied violating any laws, but has agreed to provide anti-discrimination training and oversight in the Ashland plant.

The law requires employers to post Sexual Harassment Poster which describes sex discrimination that violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Monday, November 13, 2006

Male Worker Awarded $18 Million in Harassment Suit

James Stevens, a former clerk in Vons Companies Inc., was awarded $18 million by a Ventura County jury.

Stevens filed a lawsuit in 2004, claiming that he was sexually harassed by a supervisor, Laura Marko.

Stevens reported the harassment to supervisors, but he was transferred to another Simi Valley store and then got fired in March 2004.

The jury awarded more than $16 million in punitive damages to James Stevens, in addition of $1.6 million for economic loss and emotional distress.

Vons, a unit of Safeway Inc., intends to appeal.